Has someone in your family, or someone you know, had chickenpox and had to be around them? Usually, chickenpox is mild and goes away on its own. But for some people, such as pregnant women, people undergoing cancer treatment, or people with weakened immune systems, chickenpox can be more serious. In such high-risk situations, we are talking about special precautions that can reduce the severity of chickenpox.
Simply put, what is this medicine?
The name of this medicine is Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin . It's a bit of a long name, isn't it? Let's understand this simply. Imagine that chickenpox is an enemy that comes to our body. To fight this enemy, our body has a part like soldiers. Those are antibodies. But in some people, these soldiers are not enough, or they are weak.
At that time, this medicine is made by combining very special antibodies (soldiers) taken from the blood of many healthy people who have previously had chickenpox and recovered well. This means that when you inject this medicine, your body receives a large amount of ready-made antibodies that can fight the chickenpox virus.
The important thing is that this does not prevent chickenpox 100% of the time. However, if chickenpox does occur, it significantly reduces its severity, the risk of complications, and the duration of the illness.
This medicine may be available in the market under brand names such as `(VARIZIG)`.
Things you should tell your doctor before getting this treatment
This is very important. Before giving you this medicine, it is essential that your doctor knows your complete health history. If you have any of the conditions listed in the table below, be sure to tell them.
| Your health condition | Why is it important? |
|---|---|
| Bleeding disorders | Since this is an injection into a muscle, you need to be careful about the risk of bleeding. |
| Diabetes | Sometimes blood sugar levels can be affected. |
| A history of heart disease, high cholesterol, or blood clots | Although very rare, the risk of blood clots may increase. |
| IgA deficiency | This is a specific immune condition. These people may be at risk of severe allergies. |
| Decreased blood cell count | Conditions such as low white blood cells, red blood cells, or platelets. |
| If you have recently received or are due to receive a vaccine | This medicine may affect the effectiveness of other vaccines. |
| Any type of allergy | Tell us about any allergies you have to this medicine, other medicines, or foods. |
| If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are a breastfeeding mother | In these cases, it is very important to talk to your doctor about the pros and cons of treatment. |
How do you use this medicine?
This is not a medicine you can take home. This is an injection that is given into your muscle by a healthcare professional in a hospital or clinic .
- For young children: If you are giving this medicine to your child, talk to your pediatrician about it. Even newborns can be given this medicine in special cases, but special precautions should be followed.
- If you accidentally take too much: This is unlikely to happen as it is given in a hospital setting. However, if it does happen, immediately inform the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital or the Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) of the nearest hospital.
- Sharing: This medicine is prescribed for you only. Do not share it with anyone else for any reason.
Special points to be aware of
Should we be afraid because it is made from human blood?
Yes, this medicine is made from human blood. So you might be wondering if it can transmit diseases. But don't worry. The people who donate this blood and the blood that is received are subjected to very strict screening and special processes to remove viruses and other things. So far, there have been no reports of infections caused by this medicine. However, please discuss any questions you may have about this with your doctor.
Side effects of vaccines
This is very important. When you take this `Immune Globulin`, it can reduce the effectiveness of live virus vaccines . Vaccines like the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, and the chickenpox vaccine fall into this category.
Therefore, if you are due to receive another vaccine within 3 months of taking this medicine, be sure to tell the doctor who is giving you the vaccine. You may need to get an extra dose (`booster dose`) or change the vaccination schedule.
What are the possible side effects?
Like any medicine, this one can cause side effects in some people. Although most of them are minor, there are some things we need to be especially careful about.
| Side effect | Description |
|---|---|
| Things to report to your doctor or ETU immediately | |
| Severe allergic reactions | Skin rash, severe itching, swelling of the face, lips or tongue. |
| Difficulty breathing, chest pain, swelling in a leg | These may be signs of a blood clot in a blood vessel. Seek medical advice immediately. |
| If it persists or is bothersome, tell your doctor. | |
| Feeling cold (Chills) | May occur with a slight fever. |
| Headache | It usually subsides within a day or two. |
| Pain at the injection site | It is normal to experience redness, some pain, or swelling at the injection site. |
This list does not include all possible side effects. If you experience anything unusual, talk to your doctor about it.
Take-Home Message
- Varicella-Zoster Immune Globulin is a special vaccine given to people who are at risk of serious complications from chickenpox (such as those with weakened immune systems or pregnant women) to reduce the severity of the disease.
- Although it is made from human blood, the risk of transmitting infection is very low because very safe methods are followed.
- Before taking this treatment, it is imperative to tell your doctor about all your health conditions and other medications you are taking.
- If you are receiving other vaccines (especially MMR) after receiving this vaccine, inform your doctor.
- Seek immediate medical attention if you experience difficulty breathing, chest pain, or severe allergic symptoms.
- If you have any questions about your health, never hesitate to discuss them with your doctor.
👩🏽⚕️ Additional questions (FAQs)
💬 The Varicella Zoster Immune Globulin (VZIG / VariZIG) vaccine is a very powerful medicine given for which disease?
This is not an ordinary vaccine/pill! This is the only powerful life-saving (Passive Immunization) vaccine in the world that can prevent/control chickenpox in people who have been exposed to someone who has chickenpox (Chickenpox / VZV), but who are at high risk of dying if they develop chickenpox, in immunocompromised people, in pregnant women, and in newborns and premature babies!
💬 How can we prevent chickenpox from developing in our bodies by administering this vaccine (VariZIG) when we are around a chickenpox patient?
Normal vaccines inject a virus into our bodies and then make an army of antibodies (which takes weeks). But someone who is about to die doesn't have that much time! This vaccine contains '100% ready-made army of pre-formed IgG antibodies' taken from healthy people (plasma)! As soon as it is injected, that army goes throughout the body and immediately captures and destroys the chickenpox virus that has entered the body.
💬 What are the 'fatal dangers' (Black Box Warning) that people who receive this medicine (VZIG) must be aware of?
The biggest and most deadly danger is that since this is made from 100% human plasma, there is a rare chance that the patient will develop an allergic reaction and die immediately. Also, even if chickenpox does not develop after receiving this vaccine, since it only lasts for a few weeks (passive immunity only), chickenpox may recur in the future (it is not permanently cured).
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